He stares at me, his jaw ticking. “No.”
“Oh.”Not even me?I want to ask. But I don’t. It’s obvious the thought hasn’t crossed his mind. I swallow down, nodding, and blow out a breath. “Luke asked me.”
Chris’s brows lift. “To prom?”
“Yeah,” I reply, with a shrug, glancing back at Luke in the pool. He’s splashing water at the girls and laughing, turning his eyes on me. He shoots me a wink, and I turn around, facing Chris whose jaw is tense. “He asked me earlier,” I tell him. “In the pool.”
His eyes flick to mine, and he shakes his head slightly. “You told me you weren’t interested in anyone.”
“I’m not.”
“But you’re going with Luke?” he asks, his eyes hardened.
“Well, it’s not like anyone else asked me,” I say, my voice raising slightly.
He stares back at me, his lips opening a little before he shuts them again, breathing out a sigh as he closes his eyes.
I wanthimto ask me. I want to go with Chris. There’s no one in the whole word I’d rather go to prom with than Chris.
But he doesn’t want me.
Not like I want him.
My head lifts when Chris stands up and pulls his hood up. “I think I’m going to leave.”
My frown deepens. “Already? But—”
“This isn’t really my scene, Gabi. And besides, it looks like you have company now, so…” Chris looks behind me, and I turn back, seeing him look at Luke. “You don’t need me anymore.”
That’s not true. I need him. He’s the only person I need so badly I can’t breathe when he’s not around sometimes. “Chris,” I say, standing up, wrapping my hand around his wrist.
“It’s fine, Gabi,” he says, slowly releasing his wrist from my hold. “It’s late, and…” He sighs. “Have fun.” He shoots me a smile, and turns around, heading back into Stacy’s house.
“Chris,” I call out again before he goes in. He turns his head over his shoulder. “Will I see you tonight?” I ask him, not knowing where we stand after tonight. Even if Chris doesn’t feel the same, I still love him, and I still feel safe with him, and I want to spend the night in his arms.
Chris lets out a shrug, and glances back at the pool. “Maybe you can stay with Luke tonight.”
He walks away, and it breaks my heart.
Chapter 21
You can always cuddle me
“You’re late,” my sister says as we walk into the hotel lobby, her eyes narrowing.
“I’m a day early,” I reply with a shrug. “That’s a win in my book.”
She lets out a sigh, shaking her head. “You were supposed to be here hours ago,” she mutters, glancing out the window. “The sun is setting for crying out loud.”
“Sorry,” Chris says, trailing behind me with our suitcases. “That was my fault.” He stops beside me, giving me a sheepishglance. “I, uh, told Gabi we should stop for a while since it was raining, and we were pretty tired.”
And then I went ahead and nearly fucked everything up. Like always.
My sister grins so wide, I’m almost jealous. “Christopher Hudson,” she says warmly.
“Yep,” Chris says, letting out a nervous laugh as he brushes his hair back. The rain has left it even messier and curlier, and I’m losing my goddamn mind. “It’s me.”
“Wow.” My sister shakes her head in amazement. “Look at you. You’re a man now.”
